Season’s greetings to all our readers of Alcircle

Dear Readers,

May our charm of readership remains glorified and hope we get to celebrate together many more Christmas in the coming years. While we are approaching the end of the year 2021 and getting ready to welcome 2022, we take this opportunity to share with you the top newsmakers of the industry in 2021.

Bauxite

Jamalco to initiate public offering (IPO) allowing Jamaicans to invest in the bauxite mining/alumina business company

Dr Nigel Clarke, Jamaica's Minister of Finance and Public Service, said on 1^st December 2021 that Jamaicans may soon be able to participate in Jamalco, a bauxite mining/alumina firm, through an initial public offering (IPO). The Government of Jamaica is attempting to incorporate Jamalco and list the Government of Jamaica's 45% ownership in the company on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, according to Dr Clarke.

Hydro achieved 100% improvement in bauxite production to 2,756 million tonnes in Q3 2021

Hydro reported that, due to global demand recovery and fiscal stimulus, it has already met its 2021 improvement target of NOK 5.1 billion in the third quarter of 2021 (which concluded on September 30). According to Hydro's results, the company's sales increased by 33% from NOK 27,516 million in Q3 2020 to NOK 36,710 million in Q3 2021. It increased by 6% from NOK 34,559 million in the previous quarter.

Alumina

Domestic alumina prices in China reached a 13-year high at RMB 4,119/t

The domestic prices of alumina in China attained a 13 year high, with a record amount of RMB 4,119/ tonnes. Alumina is the major raw material for the production of primary aluminium. The power curbs in China due to restricted production of coal have led to an estimated slash of 10-20% at operations in the industry.

RUSAL’s Aughinish alumina refinery secured EU funding to reduce carbon footprint

The Aughinish Alumina refinery, which is one of the world's most technologically sophisticated and energy-efficient plants, has received EU funds to assist decrease its carbon impact. The present gas-fired boilers at the Limerick alumina refinery will be replaced with a 25-megawatt high-pressure electric boiler, which will be utilised to generate alumina, the key element in aluminium.

Jamalco alumina refinery suffered a loss of $500,000 per day in August due to a severe fire breakout

The House of Representatives heard from Mining Minister Robert Montage, who said the August 22 incident at the Jamalco alumina refinery cost the firm US$500,000 per day. This is based on an alumina production cost of US$150 per tonne and a daily output of 3,170 tonnes.

Primary Aluminium

Guinea coup sent the LME aluminium benchmark price to a decade high

On 14^th September 2021, it was reported that the LME aluminium benchmark price leapt to a new milestone of US$3,000 per tonne, the first time ever since 2008. Aluminium raw materials supply disruptions in Guinea coupled with production restrictions in China pushed the LME aluminium price to a 13-year high. However, both the LME aluminium cash (bid) price and LME official settlement price fell at 1450 GMT to as low as US$2,858 per tonne but closed the day higher at US$2,949 per tonne and US$2,950 per tonne, up 1.8 per cent from the previous day.

Power curbs in China reduced 7% domestic annual aluminium capacity

China's power restrictions have resulted in a 7% reduction in domestic annual aluminium production capacity this year. To cut carbon emissions and reserve electricity for people ahead of the Winter Heating Season, China has limited electricity usage in high-energy-intensive sectors.

EGA accomplished Al Taweelah smelter expansion to enhance output capacity by 78,000 TPA

The Al Taweelah smelter in Abu Dhabi has been expanded by Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), one of the UAE's leading corporations, to increase output capacity by 78,000 tonnes per year.  According to Abdulnasser bin Kalban, CEO of EGA, the completion of this expansion project, will help the company increase its production capacity in the face of increased demand for aluminium as the globe recovers from Covid-19.

Downstream Products

Evtec acquired Sanjeev Gupta’s Liberty Aluminium Technologies

Sanjeev Gupta, the founder of Liberty House Group and the Executive Chairman of GFG Alliance, has sold two aluminium components factories after Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) decided to buy a key component of the company's supply chain. The Coventry-based Evtec will buy out Liberty Aluminium Technologies' casting plants in Coventry and Kidderminster in the West Midlands, preserving 170 jobs.

Alucast’s invested £200,000 to bounce back from pandemic

Alucast's Wednesbury facility, which employs roughly 100 people, has won new business from major automakers, demonstrating its capacity to provide simulation, casting, machining, and cutting-edge testing. The firm has been enhanced even further by a £200,000 investment in developing a specialised Dye Penetrant offering.

Novelis accomplished $150m aluminium rolling and recycling expansion project in Brazil

Novelis Inc., the world leader in aluminium rolling and recycling, stated on 12th August 2021, that it had completed a $150 million investment to increase both rolling and recycling capacity at its Pindamonhangaba factory in Brazil by 100 kilotonnes each.

End-User

Airbus initiates production of first aluminium panel skin for Skynet 6A

On the 11^th October 2021, Airbus, a European multinational aerospace firm, began manufacturing of the Skynet 6A military communications satellite's inaugural aluminium panel skin at its Stevenage plant, in the presence of the UK's minister of defence procurement, Jeremy Quin.

RUSAL inked a deal with Budweiser Brewing Group to supply ultra-low carbon aluminium can

Budweiser Brewing Group, AB InBev's UK branch, has teamed up with three other major aluminium businesses to launch a can with the lowest carbon footprint for Budweiser Brewing Group, AB InBev's UK arm. RUSAL, the world's biggest producer of low-carbon aluminium, ELVAL, a prominent aluminium rolling firm, and CANPACK, a worldwide maker of aluminium beverage cans, are the three companies.

Reynaers Aluminium excels with the glory of Al Khobar skyline project ‘Ajdan Rise’

Reynaers Aluminium, a specialist in the development and marketing of innovative and sustainable aluminium solutions for windows, doors, curtain walls, sliding systems, sun screening, and conservatories, has delivered the latest generation of its versatile systems to a prestigious project known as 'Ajdan Rise,' which has become the crowning glory of Al Khobar's skyline.

Recycled Aluminium

CBA’s Metalex to increase its aluminium scrap melting capacity

Metalex Ltd., a subsidiary of So Paulo-based Companhia Brasileira de Alumnio (CBA), has boosted its billet production capacity and is investing in its ability to use scrap at the Metalex melt facility. According to CBA, a new sidewell-style furnace at Metalex in Araçariguama, Brazil, has boosted its billet production capacity from 75,000 to 90,000 tonnes per year.

Alcoa's ASTRAEA process turned unused aluminium scrap into high-quality products

Alcoa is developing a process to convert low-quality aluminium waste to a purity level that exceeds that of commercial smelters, possibly opening up new supplies of discarded aluminium scrap known as Zorba. Alcoa claims that its ASTRAEA process can purify any aluminium scrap to a high enough degree to create a new value chain.

Gravita commenced aluminium production from its new recycling plant in Mozambique

Gravita India announced that its step-down subsidiary in Mozambique, which is located on Africa's southeast coast, has started commercial production of aluminium from its new recycling facility, which has an annual capacity of around 4,000 MTPA, in addition to its existing lead recycling facility, which has a capacity of 4,500 MTPA, and is also working on establishing a new plastic recycling unit in Mozambique.